houdina Senior Member Joined: 1 Sep 2005 Posts: 56 Location: Northen New Jersey
Espresso: LM SMAL, GS3 Grinder: Versalab M3
Posted Fri Feb 27, 2009, 10:48am Subject: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
The UPS truck pulled up and dropped off my new Vario grinder. Chris Coffee sent it in a large box filled with peanuts, but the Baratza packing look up being shipped on it own. Took just a few minutes to be up and grinding. It has no problem chocking my GS3, I had to back it off three coarse setting to get it in range. When I was grinding too fine there was some static popping particals out to the pf, but at the correct setting there was no problem. Compared to my Mahlkönig K30 Vario it was much slower but with less clumping(the downside of the Mahlkönig). I think the resulting espresso is better as well but I will take more time to decide. One thing the Baratza is easier to dose well with(less clumping) Here is a photo of the two side by side, I think the wife will be much happier with this one.click here
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,462 Location: Vancouver, BC Expertise: Professional
Espresso: KvdW Speedster Grinder: Compak K10 WBC Vac Pot: A bit too many Drip: Clive Coffee Drip Stand Roaster: Hario Glass Retro Roaster
Posted Fri Feb 27, 2009, 3:46pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
I changed the subject title (hope you don't mind) so that all the new Vario posts by people receiving their grinders over the next few days and weeks can post to a unified thread, instead of having a handful of them.
I'd invite others who are getting a Vario to post their thoughts here once you have time to unpack it :)
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Sat Feb 28, 2009, 2:56am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Mark, I dont own one, So I apoligize If I shouldnt post this. :)
But,, GREAT!!! I was skeptical this grinder, and Im glad its more then capable, because I really wanted one!!
That is GOOD NEWS!-Ron Burgandy
Kudos, Jeff
P.S.- hows the GS/3 workin out? Upgradeitis cured for a month or so? ::wink::
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
Posted Sat Feb 28, 2009, 3:40am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
houdina Said:
The UPS truck pulled up and dropped off my new Vario grinder. Chris Coffee sent it in a large box filled with peanuts, but the Baratza packing look up being shipped on it own. Took just a few minutes to be up and grinding. It has no problem chocking my GS3, I had to back it off three coarse setting to get it in range. When I was grinding too fine there was some static popping particals out to the pf, but at the correct setting there was no problem. Compared to my Mahlkönig K30 Vario it was much slower but with less clumping(the downside of the Mahlkönig). I think the resulting espresso is better as well but I will take more time to decide. One thing the Baratza is easier to dose well with(less clumping) Here is a photo of the two side by side, I think the wife will be much happier with this one.click here
shadowfax Senior Member Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 776 Location: Houston, TX Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Marzocco GS3 Vac Pot: Yama TCA-3
Posted Sat Feb 28, 2009, 8:35am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
houdina,
I am intrigued by your findings on the GS3 between the two grinders. What coffee are you using for comparing the two, and how would you say the Vario shots are superior to the K30 shots? Do they have more body? More clarity? Are they smoother?
If you could comment on your brewing parameters for the grinders (dose and final volume), I would really appreciate that as well.
You can center adjustment lever on the K30, so I keep it toward the middle. I would say the Baratza is even quieter than the K30 and they both make less noise than any other grinder I have heard.
Jmanespresso Said:
P.S.- hows the GS/3 workin out? Upgradeitis cured for a month or so? ::wink::
Jmanespresso Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 2,108 Location: Westchester NY Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Alex Duetto II Grinder: Compak K10 - Vario Vac Pot: Yama-SY5/SY8/TCA5 Drip: V60, Beehouse, CCD Roaster: Hottop B
Posted Sat Feb 28, 2009, 10:46am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
Well thats good to know the the Gs/3 can cure some upgradeitis for a while. Its a machine I aspire to be, as Im sure many do as well. But in all seriousness, its a beautfiful machine, really great. Enjoy it as much as you can!
Ya know, that really is good news about the Vario, all jokes aside. I like the way you adjust the grinds. It seems to me that it gives you the flexibility of a stepless, but its stepped in a way. Really a nice design, and for the lower price of the K30, seems well worth it. The programability is nice as well, espescially in a grinder in this price range.
Im personally a Handgrinder guy, but was looking for a electric grinder for the future, as I usually have (at the VERY least) two espresso blends that im pullin with, one for milk and one for straight, and I wanted to have a seperate grinder for each, as they are usually pretty different blends. But, since I dont NEED a new grinder, Im not going to spend a whole lot, so I was lookin to the Lelit or the Ascaso I2D, but the Vario seems like it would be superior to both, and not too much more money. I also am currently expanding my collection of hand grinders, and will be doing my first restoration once my ebay purchase arives, so I was looking for a grinder for cheaper then the top dogs, that would still grind like a champ. The vario is easily becoming number 1 in that respect, for me anyway.
Thanks for letting us know how its working. Definatly keep us posted as you use it more and more and understand its personality better. Also, enjoy your espresso, Im sure with your setup even before the Vario, its pretty hard to get bad espresso!
Kudos Jeff
Follow Your Bliss
Coffee makes your constantly overcome your prejudices and re-evaluate your own "received wisdoms" when it comes to judging cup flavors. -Tom Owen, SweetMarias
houdina Senior Member Joined: 1 Sep 2005 Posts: 56 Location: Northen New Jersey
Espresso: LM SMAL, GS3 Grinder: Versalab M3
Posted Sat Feb 28, 2009, 11:09am Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
shadowfax Said:
houdina,
I am intrigued by your findings on the GS3 between the two grinders. What coffee are you using for comparing the two, and how would you say the Vario shots are superior to the K30 shots? Do they have more body? More clarity? Are they smoother?
If you could comment on your brewing parameters for the grinders (dose and final volume), I would really appreciate that as well.
I am using Hairbender right now. As far as comparing the two I have to say I am much more of a machine geek than a coffee geek. I know when I've made a good shot but as far as the nuances, I'm not the one to ask.
I don't know if you've taken the lid off of your K30 yet, but it's actually pretty easy to recalibrate the numbers to make them whatever you want. The lid engages a cog that adjusts the burr up and down, so when you put the lid on, if the cog is moved one direction or the other, it will cause a different number to be read out front when returning to the same grind setting.
There's some red paint inside from the factory that marks the place the cog should be at prior to putting the lid back on. When I changed burrs, the red mark didn't seem to apply anymore, causing me to shift the cog about 20* clockwise before putting the lid on.
Posted Sat Feb 28, 2009, 3:51pm Subject: Re: The Baratza Vario Grinder Owner's Thread
networkcrasher Said:
I don't know if you've taken the lid off of your K30 yet, but it's actually pretty easy to recalibrate the numbers to make them whatever you want. The lid engages a cog that adjusts the burr up and down, so when you put the lid on, if the cog is moved one direction or the other, it will cause a different number to be read out front when returning to the same grind setting.
There's some red paint inside from the factory that marks the place the cog should be at prior to putting the lid back on. When I changed burrs, the red mark didn't seem to apply anymore, causing me to shift the cog about 20* clockwise before putting the lid on.
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